Author:focus-on-transport
Success in the transportation of specialised and hazardous freight requires a special relationship in which the vehicle supplier has a deep understanding of its client’s unique business circumstances. This is something MAN Automotive – through its private-capital dealer United Truck Centre – has been able to accomplish with specialist transporter Infinite Transport, and why it has become the company’s vehicle supplier of choice. Henu Cronje, COO of Infinite Transport, explains that the relationship began four years ago, after the company […]
It’s the large-van battle we’ve all been waiting for! CATHAL DOYLE of Fleet Magazine, pits the all-new, all-Mercedes-Benz Sprinter against the all-new, all-Volkswagen Crafter. Divorce is rarely pretty. When separation occurs between two erstwhile partners, neither wants to feel that they are the losing party. Both want to be able to move on and say they are better off going it alone than in partnership. That’s what makes this van comparison so fascinating. In their previous guises the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and […]
For a truck tyre, the only contact with the ground is a contact surface area equal to three hands, or an A4 piece of paper. It’s therefore important to ensure they are fit for purpose Tyres have an influence on braking, acceleration, cornering, handling, as well as mechanical and acoustic comfort. Tyres also contribute significantly to the overall operating costs in the transport industry. In addition, tyres can be optimised to improve fuel efficiency, durability and endurance. Modern tyres share […]
A battery is one of the most important automotive components – it is responsible for engine start-up as well as the reliable operation of all electrical systems The first reusable lead-acid power-storage battery was introduced in 1859 by French Physicist Gaston Planté. His design used an anode (negative electrode) made of lead and a cathode (positive electrode) made of lead dioxide. Both were submerged in a shared electrolyte solution. While batteries had been around since the 1700s, the biggest difference […]
Many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are extending service intervals to double what they once were. The question is: how have extended motor-oil drain intervals been made possible, and is there anything that fleet managers need to know? Motor oil is used to reduce friction and prevent engine wear, as well as to displace heat and control contaminants. There are two major components that go into oil; the first is the base oil and the second is the additive package. The […]
GAVIN MYERS explores how some of the leading specialised transporters manage the risky business of moving dangerous and hazardous goods. With the sheer number of goods classified as dangerous and/or hazardous, running a successful dangerous-goods (DG) or hazardous-chemicals (Hazchem) transport operation is fraught with challenges. Training, preparation, obligation and compliance, management, accident recovery and (importantly) clean-up all need to be managed with an iron fist. It’s truly a specialised job. So, who better to pose some questions to about the […]
In the search for ultimate trucking efficiency, it would make sense that both the horse and the trailer, as a unit, should run as efficiently as possible. This includes reducing as much rolling resistance as possible. GAVIN MYERS finds out how steered trailers are helping to achieve this. Steered trailers are nothing new. They’ve been used to transport abnormal loads for eons and their benefits are numerous – easier manoeuvrability being chief among them. So, what would happen if the […]
FOCUS finds out about the current challenges faced by the commuter-bus industry According to Statistics South Africa’s National Household Travel Survey, 10,2 percent of families use buses to get around. Last year was an extremely challenging year for the commuter-bus industry. It was tasked with reconciling balance sheets with the increasing price of diesel, higher passenger expectations, higher wages and ever-increasing operating costs. At the same time, buses do not have the flexibility to compete with minibus taxis that are […]
Scania South Africa (SA) ended 2018 with its biggest deal ever! And there are yet more exciting developments coming in 2019… Scania SA ended 2018 by signing a 600-unit deal with Reinhardt Transport – the first 290 of which were delivered before the year was out. However, success such as this does not come without much behind-the-scenes legwork and focusing on the most important aspect of any business: the customer. Anders Friberg, GM of vehicle sales and exports at Scania […]
The Mercedes-Benz OF 1723 bus chassis has entered its second year of sale on the South African commuter-bus market. By making this chassis available locally, the brand intends to capture the market for entry-level buses that do not compromise on quality It’s no secret that 2018 was a tough year for bus operators, their passengers and their suppliers. While bus sales figures remained stable, the industry as a whole had to work exceptionally hard to keep the wheels turning. For […]
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